The load of traps carried by the vessel was sufficient to submerge the well-deck scuppers. The well-deck, therefore, would have flooded had the scuppers not been plugged. When scupper holes in small open vessels are secured with plugs, water shipped over the gunwale is retained in the watertight well-deck and this endangers the vessel. On the day on which MISSSHANNON sank, one hatch to the bilge had been left open to allow shipped water to drain to the bilge. This hazardous situation is one to which all similarly outfitted vessels of open construction are subjected when employed offshore. All small vessels of open construction are inherently susceptible to the dangers of swamping and it is apparent from the conditions described in this occurrence that they are very weather dependent and require prudent operation. As a vessel of open construction, the reserve buoyancy and range of positive stability of MISS SHANNON were dependent upon the vessel's sides being intact up to the gunwale level. Although a hatch had been left open to drain the quantity of water which could normally be expected to be shipped, to the bilge and be pumped overboard, the shipped water did not drain quickly enough to avoid the loss of stability caused by sudden flooding of the well-deck. Although there were life jackets and flares on board none were used in the hasty abandonment. These items were stowed in the cuddy rather than the wheel-house where they would have been more accessible. Although operating in an area more than 20 miles from land, MISSSHANNON carried no boat or liferaft and was not fitted with an EPIRB. This situation is not uncommon. With a water temperature of approximately 13C, a person in the water may survive for approximately 3 hours, but the two men who drowned were unable to stay afloat for this length of time. It is not known to what extent the floating lines reduced the ability of the victim entangled in them to survive.Analysis The load of traps carried by the vessel was sufficient to submerge the well-deck scuppers. The well-deck, therefore, would have flooded had the scuppers not been plugged. When scupper holes in small open vessels are secured with plugs, water shipped over the gunwale is retained in the watertight well-deck and this endangers the vessel. On the day on which MISSSHANNON sank, one hatch to the bilge had been left open to allow shipped water to drain to the bilge. This hazardous situation is one to which all similarly outfitted vessels of open construction are subjected when employed offshore. All small vessels of open construction are inherently susceptible to the dangers of swamping and it is apparent from the conditions described in this occurrence that they are very weather dependent and require prudent operation. As a vessel of open construction, the reserve buoyancy and range of positive stability of MISS SHANNON were dependent upon the vessel's sides being intact up to the gunwale level. Although a hatch had been left open to drain the quantity of water which could normally be expected to be shipped, to the bilge and be pumped overboard, the shipped water did not drain quickly enough to avoid the loss of stability caused by sudden flooding of the well-deck. Although there were life jackets and flares on board none were used in the hasty abandonment. These items were stowed in the cuddy rather than the wheel-house where they would have been more accessible. Although operating in an area more than 20 miles from land, MISSSHANNON carried no boat or liferaft and was not fitted with an EPIRB. This situation is not uncommon. With a water temperature of approximately 13C, a person in the water may survive for approximately 3 hours, but the two men who drowned were unable to stay afloat for this length of time. It is not known to what extent the floating lines reduced the ability of the victim entangled in them to survive. The well-deck scuppers were closed because they were underwater when the vessel was loaded with crab traps. Although a hatch to the bilge had been left open, this was insufficient to drain the large amount of water when the well-deck was swamped. With the well-deck filled to gunwale level, MISSSHANNON quickly lost stability, overturned and settled stern first. The sudden overturning and partial sinking initially trapped the owner/operator and his two sons in the wheel-house. The vessel assumed a 'bow-up' position in the water and remained thus for approximately 2 hours before sinking. The speed at which the vessel assumed a 'bow-up' position prevented the crew from either sending a distress signal by any of the available means or accessing the life jackets stowed in the cuddy. One crewmember probably survived because he was able to cling to the bow pulpit protruding from the water. The floating lines were a hazard when the crewmembers were in the water. Although engaged in offshore activities, MISSSHANNON carried neither a liferaft nor a boat.Findings The well-deck scuppers were closed because they were underwater when the vessel was loaded with crab traps. Although a hatch to the bilge had been left open, this was insufficient to drain the large amount of water when the well-deck was swamped. With the well-deck filled to gunwale level, MISSSHANNON quickly lost stability, overturned and settled stern first. The sudden overturning and partial sinking initially trapped the owner/operator and his two sons in the wheel-house. The vessel assumed a 'bow-up' position in the water and remained thus for approximately 2 hours before sinking. The speed at which the vessel assumed a 'bow-up' position prevented the crew from either sending a distress signal by any of the available means or accessing the life jackets stowed in the cuddy. One crewmember probably survived because he was able to cling to the bow pulpit protruding from the water. The floating lines were a hazard when the crewmembers were in the water. Although engaged in offshore activities, MISSSHANNON carried neither a liferaft nor a boat. The MISSSHANNON overturned and sank because she lost reserve buoyancy when her well-deck was swamped and filled to gunwale height with entrapped water. There was no time to send a distress call or don life jackets, and no liferaft or boat was carried on board.Causes and Contributing Factors The MISSSHANNON overturned and sank because she lost reserve buoyancy when her well-deck was swamped and filled to gunwale height with entrapped water. There was no time to send a distress call or don life jackets, and no liferaft or boat was carried on board.